We've put together a hand-picked selection of the best Scottish boy names - both traditional and contemporary, complete with meaning & origin whenever possible.
Of course you'll find Gaelic, Celtic and Olde English choices.
But there are others which reflect the languages and cultures of the varied countries who invaded Scotland over the centuries.
Some of the ones you'll see here are also well-known clan names.
Others are used interchangeably as first, or last, names.
This is because of the way the naming culture developed in Scotland.
If you're interested in learning more about that, CLICK HERE (page will open in a new window).
Here are the cream of the crop, there's literally something for everyone :)
Below the chart you'll also find a list of the Top 20 Boys Names in Scotland for 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020 (compiled by, and courtesy of, the National Records of Scotland).
Name |
Origin & Meaning |
Adair |
Gaelic Meaning 'ford of the oaks' or 'oak grove'. |
Ailbeart |
Gaelic Scottish Gaelic form of Albert, meaning 'bright nobility'. |
Alastair |
Gaelic Scottish Gaelic form of Alexander, meaning 'defender' or 'defending man'. |
Alban |
Gaelic From 'Alba',the Gaelic name for Scotland. Meaning 'rock'. |
Alexander |
Greek Ancient name meaning 'defender' or 'defending man'. Made popular by Scottish kings, Alexander I, II and III. |
Alpin |
Gaelic Meaning 'white'. |
Andrew |
Greek Meaning 'a brave man'. St. Andrew is the Patron Saint of Scotland. |
Angus |
Gaelic Meaning 'unique choice'. Seen in Scotland as early as the 6th century. |
Archibald |
Old German Meaning either 'noble and bold', or 'bright gold'. Popular with Campbell clan members due to 12th century link. Also used as a surname. |
Baldwin |
Old German Meaning 'bold friend'. |
Boyd |
Gaelic Meaning 'blond' or 'yellow'. Also seen as a Scottish surname. |
Bryce |
Celtic Meaning 'pied' or 'speckled'. |
Calum |
Gaelic Meaning 'dove'. May be Gaelic derivative of Malcolm. Often spelled as 'Callum'. |
Cameron |
Gaelic Meaning 'crooked nose'. Dates back to at least the 15th century. Unisex name. Popular Scottish surname. |
Campbell |
Gaelic Meaning 'crooked mouth'. Also popular Scottish surname. |
Cinead |
Gaelic Meaning 'born of fire'. |
Craig |
Gaelic From Gaelic word 'creag' meaning' 'rock'. Recorded as early as 11th century. Also popular Scottish surname. |
Diarmid |
Gaelic From Irish Gaelic Diarmuid. Meaning 'without envy' or 'free man'. |
Donald |
Gaelic From Irish Gaelic 'Domhnall'. First seen in Scotland during 9th century. Meaning 'world mighty'. |
Donnan |
Gaelic Meaning 'brown'. |
Douglas |
Gaelic From Gaelic 'dubh' meaning 'black', and 'glas' meaning 'water'. Popular surname in Scotland. Unknown as forename before the 16th century. |
Drummond |
Gaelic From Gaelic 'drum' and 'onde', meaning 'high ground' or 'ridge'. Popular as surname. |
Dougal |
Gaelic From Gaelic 'dubh' for 'black' and 'gall' for 'stranger'. Meaning 'dark stranger'. Also seen as Dugal. Also seen as Scottish last name. |
Duncan |
Gaelic From Gaelic 'dun' - 'brown, and 'chadh' - 'warrior'. Meaning 'dark/brown warrior'. Seen in 11th century Kings Duncan I and Duncan II. |
Eachann |
Gaelic Meaning 'horse'. |
Erskine |
Gaelic From the Scottish Gaelic 'Ard Sescenn' meaning 'projecting height' or 'high marsh'. Popular Scottish last name. |
Ethan |
Hebrew Meaning 'strength' or 'long lived' |
Ewan |
Celtic Meaning 'born of the yew tree' or 'youth'. Also seen as Euan. |
Fergus |
Gaelic Ancient name, meaning 'man of strength' or 'brave chieftain'. Royal name in Pictish and Celtic society. Root of Scottish surname Ferguson. |
Fingal |
Gaelic Meaning 'white stranger'. |
Finlay |
Gaelic Meaning 'fair headed' or 'white warrior'. |
Fraser |
Norman/French Meaning 'strawberry bearer' or 'grower of strawberries'. Popular as surname in Scotland. |
Gavin |
European Meaning 'white hawk' or 'hawk man'. Popular during the middle ages. |
Gordon |
Gaelic From Gaelic 'gor-dun' meaning 'hill fort'. |
Graham |
Olde English From 'grand' - 'gravel' and 'ham' - 'home'. Meaning 'gravel home'. Popular as surname in Scotland. |
Grant |
French Meaning 'large or tall'. In French 'grand' means 'big'. Popular last name. |
Gregor |
Greek Meaning 'watchful' or 'vigilant'. |
Hamilton |
Olde English Meaning 'flat topped hill' or 'place of the hill'. |
Hamish |
Gaelic Gaelic form of James, meaning 'one of supplants'. |
Hew |
Old German Brought to Scotland by the Normans. Meaning 'heart, mind or spirit'. Now often seen as Hugh. |
Iain |
Gaelic Gaelic form of John, meaning 'God is gracious'. |
Irvine |
Gaelic Meaning 'green water'. Often used as surname. |
James |
Roman Meaning 'one who supplants'. Often seen in Scotland since 13th century. Popular with Scottish royals - there were 7 Scottish King James'. Also seen in Gaelic form as 'Hamish'. |
Kennedy |
Gaelic Meaning 'helmet wearer' or 'ugly headed'. |
Lachlan |
Gaelic Irish Gaelic originally. Meaning 'lake habitation'. Popular since 13th century, especially in the Scottish Highlands. |
Leslie |
Gaelic Meaning 'one who lives by the garden pool'. First seen in 11th century. Also seen as surname. |
Lewis |
Old German Meaning 'noted warrior'. |
Malcolm |
Gaelic From Gaelic 'maol calium' meaning 'follower of the dove' ie Saint Columba. Can also mean 'man of Columb'. Scottish Gaelic version is Calum. |
Muir |
Gaelic Meaning 'sea warrior'. Also popular last name. |
Mungo |
Celtic Ancient name meaning 'dear one' or 'beloved'. |
Owen |
Gaelic Irish Gaelic originally. Meaning 'well born' or 'born to nobility'. Goes back to the time of the Picts in Scotland. |
Raibert |
Old German Meaning 'bright flame'. Brought to Scotland by the Normans. |
Rory |
Gaelic Ancient name. From the Gaelic 'ruadh' - 'red' and 'ri'- 'king'. Meaning 'red king'. Popular with Highland clans. |
Ross |
Gaelic From the Gaelic 'ros' meaning 'headland'. Seen in Scotland since the 12th century. |
Stuart |
Gaelic From the Gaelic 'sti-weard', meaning 'a steward' or 'animal warden'. Also seen as Stewart. Very popular Scottish surname. |
Tamhas |
Gaelic Gaelic form of Thomas. Meaning 'twin'. |
William |
Old German Meaning 'strong protector'. Came to Scotland with the Normans in 11th century. Popular during the Middle Ages. |
To give you a little more help, here is a (provisional) list of the Top 20 most popular Scottish boys names for 2016 (according to the National Records of Scotland website)...
1. Jack
2. James
3. Oliver
4. Lewis
5. Logan
6. Harry
7. Noah
8. Leo
9. Charlie
10. Alexander
11. Jacob and Lucas (jointly held)
13. Harris
14. Mason
15. Alfie and Finlay (jointly held)
17. Ethan
18. Daniel
19. Aaron
20. Max
For more info. and stats on popular Scottish baby names in 2016, visit this page Babies First Names 2016
The Top 20 Scottish boy names for 2017 contains the majority of the same names as were there in 2016, but there are a couple of new faces and a lot of jostling for position!
1. Jack
2. Oliver
3. James
4. Lewis
5. Noah
6. Logan
7. Harris
8. Alexander
9. Leo
10. Harry
11. Alfie
12. Finlay
13. Jacob
14. Charlie
15. Aaron
16. Lucas
17. Mason (tied with Thomas)
17. Thomas (tied with Mason)
19. Archie* (New)
20. Rory* (New)
For 2019 we have a couple more new additions and we lose Mason and Aaron. It's interesting for me to note that there are always more 'tied' names in terms of placement for boys than for girls. No importance to that fact, just a random observation!
According to the National Records of Scotland these are the most popular boys names in Scotland for 2018:
1. Jack
2. James (tied with Oliver)
2. Oliver (tied with James)
4. Logan
5. Lewis
6. Leo
7. Alexander (tied with Harris)
7. Harris (tied with Alexander)
9. Rory
10. Noah
11. Lucas
12. Harry
13. Charlie
14. Thomas
15. Jacob
16. Alfie
17. Archie
18. Finlay
19. Max (New)
20. Finn (New)
If you'd like to take a look at the popularity of Scottish baby names over the past 40 years or so, check out this Baby Name Trends App. It's fun and free.
Here are a few books that take a comprehensive look at Scottish baby names in general, if you don't see anything you love on this page they can help!
According to the registration information for babies born in Scotland during 2020, the most popular Scottish boys names list has seen some changes.
A traditional favorite, Lewis, has dropped down to sit in 15th place, and both Archie and Finlay have moved up into the top ten. As Archie only entered the top twenty in 2016, and Finlay jumped 12 places between 2019 and 2020, it would seem that they're hot names right now.
So, here are the top twenty boys names in Scotland in 2020 (see the full National Records of Scotland PDF report HERE)
1. Jack
2. Noah
3. James
4. Leo & Oliver (tied)
6. Harris
7. Rory
8. Alexander
9. Finlay
10. Archie
11. Lucas
12. Charlie
13. Alfie
14. Theo
15. Lewis
16. Finn
17. Brodie & Thomas (tied)
19. Mason
20. Jacob